Sweden's Rikard Karlberg leads the WGC-HSBC Champions event on -8 after an opening round of 64 in Shanghai.
The World number 87 leads by a shot from America's Rickie Fowler, with Russel Knox, Daniel Berger and Hideki Matsuyama a shot further behind.
Karlberg is playing in his first WGC event, and admitted the standard of the field in China, had no effect on his performance in Shenzen.
"When I teed off today, it still felt like another tournament. That's what I was mentally going into to feel and I was able to do that today."
"It was just about -- it's always the same thing. Doesn't matter which tournament it is: One shot at a time, stay committed to every shot. That's what I told myself about and that's my goal with this whole week."
1st round leader - ✔ï¸
WGC debut - ✔ï¸
Joint lowest round of his European Tour career - ✔ï¸Today was a good day for @rikardgolf. pic.twitter.com/PEdTQN3j21
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 27, 2016
Rory McIlroy, has returned to action for the first time since the Ryder Cup is seven shots off the lead on -1. The World number three shot two birdies and a bogey in his round of 71.
Despite the opening round, McIlroy still feels he can be in contention.
"I probably could have squeezed a couple more out of the round. I sort of was trying to stay as patient as I could... I feel I did everything okay. I just didn't really get it going. Didn't really get any momentum going."
"But I'll go out there tomorrow and know that I feel like I'm playing well enough to shoot a score in the mid 60s and get myself back into it."
Shane Lowry shot a 73 and ended the day on +2. The Offaly golfer is one of 31 players in the 78-man field to finish over-par.
